186 TECE COMPLETE POULTRY BOOK. 



or last of these coverts have the terminal portion emarginate, or crescent- 

 shaped, as if the ocelli had been cut out. The lateral or outermost of these 

 coverts are more thickly webbed, and curved inwards, so as to bend over the ad- 

 joining ones; they terminate in points, without ocelli." 



In color this bird differs from the common Peafowl chiefly in having a greater 

 predominance of greenish shades, hence it is called the " Green Peafowl." Its 

 habits are very similar to those of the commoa bird, except that it is more of a 

 forest bird, is wilder, and more difficult to domesticate. 



Some naturalists have claimed that another species of Peafowl existed in the 

 Black Winged Peafowl, which they have naiae& Pavonigripeirmis. "In this bird 

 the metallic green of the back, which forms the centre of the train, when ex- 

 tended, is more of a golden hue than in the common species, and the whole of 

 the secondaries, scapulars, and wing-coverts are black, with narrow edges of 

 green, which become bluish towards the carpal joint; in this particular it re- 

 sembles the Javan Peafowl, and is very distinct from the common species, in 

 which all these feathers are cream-colored, crossed with black markings. Again, 

 the thighs of the Black Winged Peafowl are black, as in the Javan species, 

 whereas in the common breed they are always of a pale drab. 



" The female of the Black Winged species is of a much lighter coloring than 

 the common Peahen, being almost entirely of a pale cream-color, mottled with 

 dark coloring above, and is readily recognizable at first sight. In this respect the 

 Black Winged is not intermediate between the two species, since the female of 

 the Javan is much more like the male." * 



The question whether this bird is a different species from the common Pea- 

 fowl is open to serious doubt, as Darwin quotes numerous instances of birds of 

 this description appearing among English flocks, and this in eases where there 

 has been no known opportunity for crossing; moreover, no such breed is known 

 to exist in the wild state, hence we are led to the conclusion that the Black 

 Winged Peafowl is but a vai-iatibn from the normal type, just as are the pied and 

 white Peafowls which are occasionally found. 



* Tegetmeier. 



